Super Sadness

For the 80 minutes of regulation, the Freeport girls soccer team took all St. Viator had. But in overtime, the Lions were able to score the Class 2A Barrington Supersectional’s only goal, pinballing a ball past Pretzel keeper Fiona Neary for a 1-0 win.

By Scott Holland

Journal Standard

By Scott Holland

Posted May. 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 30, 2012 at 3:17 PM

By Scott Holland

Posted May 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 30, 2012 at 3:17 PM

Barrington, Ill.

For the 80 minutes of regulation, the Freeport girls soccer team took all St. Viator had.

But in overtime, the Lions were able to score the Class 2A Barrington Supersectional’s only goal, pinballing a ball past Pretzel keeper Fiona Neary for a 1-0 win.

“I think they came out with a little more energy in overtime,” Freeport senior tri-captain Megan Schierer said. “I don’t know, we fought them off all game, Fiona had an excellent game, the defenders had an excellent game, but it just takes one, especially in golden goal overtime, you get one and it’s over.”

After trying unsuccessfully all game, St. Viator forward Chloe Luthringshausen was finally able to get around the outside of Freeport’s defense.

Luthringshausen dribbled into the box, then sent a cross.

The ball was shot on goal, deflected by a pair of Pretzel defenders, then found the foot of a Lion player, who pounded a shot off a diving Neary for the game-winner.

“I thought my defense did a nice job not giving them any quality looks until the end of the game,” Freeport coach Nick Namio said. “Julia Luecke had an opportunity to win the game there with a nice pass from Haley Grunewald, but we had other opportunities to win.

“To get to overtime with a chance to go to state, I could not ask any more from this group of girls.”

Namio especially couldn’t ask any more from his back three and keeper, as the four Pretzels kept St. Viator off the scoreboard for close to 85 minutes.

“We were going to ride the back three as long as we could,” Namio said. “Emily Schierer, Allyson Hayner and Ashley Alexander, they got us here with their defense, along with Fiona.

“We were going to ride them and have faith in them, they played excellent again today.”

Despite not scoring, the Pretzels had a few chances.

Early in the first half, Darice Brooks had a breakaway chance, but her shot was broken up by a Lion defender.

Late in the game Freeport had an even better chance as a ball was cleared to Freeport’s forwards.

It appeared multiple Pretzel players were offside, but Luecke, who attempted to play the ball and was onside, but was whistled for offside.

“I didn’t have the angle, the other coaches thought she was onside, so that was unlucky,” Namio said. “We talked to the girls at halftime, we knew it was going to be a one goal game, so we tried to get a goal and hang on, but we weren’t able to beat St. Viator’s defense, they were really excellent.”